Is this a valid complaint? (re: grad school)

[iamali]

I'm currently taking a summer course. It's 8 wks long vs. the normal 16 wks. I have two weeks left (::fist pump:.

I had to order 3 books for this class. We all know textbooks are a huge rip off, but whatever.

One of the books (the most expensive IIRC, I think it cost ~$60 used) we have used for ONE week. It's a "Classics of _____" type book and instead of using it, my professor will post journal articles to the Blackboard site for us to use.

Do you think it's valid if I put on my end of course eval that this is just ridiculous? Over $60 (for a USED) book that I've used exactly once and will probably only get like $20 for when I sell it back. Ugh. I'm just annoyed to day.

[MWOS]

I'd make a note of it. Was the book listed as required or recommended?

[iamali]

Jun 21, 2012 9:33:40 GMT -5 MWOS said:

I'd make a note of it. Was the book listed as required or recommended?

Required.

[partiallysunny]

Muh, the professor isn't forcing you to purchase the book and is even posting the information online.

[MWOS]

Yeah, I'd say something.
Also, quit buying your books in advance! lol

[Deleted]

Note it. Sometimes they have all their books "required" because they're just THAT damn special.

[RobotLegs]

I hate that. I remember when I was doing coursework for an MBA, I had to buy this stupid business law book- it was almost $200. We did not even crack it open. I'm still pissed.

[honeybee]

I stopped buying text books in grad school a long time ago.

[Jalapeñomel]

I´d make a note on the evaluation. It´s probably a friend or something, so he´s trying to boost their book sales, LOL.

[Mrs.Beagle]

That's why I don't buy the textbooks anymore.

[manzer1979]

That's so irritating, I'd make a note on the eval. I finished my MBA about 1 1/2 ago and found that buying and selling books on Amazon worked well. They seemed to be cheaper and I could sell them back for more than the bookstore

[kellbell191]

Yes, I would put it in the eval. I used to buy all of my textbooks used on amazon and sell them on amazon. That was the closest I came to breaking even

[MWOS]

I second the amazon suggestion. I finally had to buy a book for a class this summer. It was in the school bookstore, used, for $60 and I got one off amazon in good condition (some highlighting) for $25+$5 shipping.

[hulley]

Jun 21, 2012 9:24:46 GMT -5 iamali said:

I'm currently taking a summer course. It's 8 wks long vs. the normal 16 wks. I have two weeks left (::fist pump:.

I had to order 3 books for this class. We all know textbooks are a huge rip off, but whatever.

One of the books (the most expensive IIRC, I think it cost ~$60 used) we have used for ONE week. It's a "Classics of _____" type book and instead of using it, my professor will post journal articles to the Blackboard site for us to use.

Do you think it's valid if I put on my end of course eval that this is just ridiculous? Over $60 (for a USED) book that I've used exactly once and will probably only get like $20 for when I sell it back. Ugh. I'm just annoyed to day.

I would comment on it. I know in some of my Blackboard courses, the professor isn't the one who gets to choosd the books/write the syllabus so maybe this comment would be seen by someone who can change it? Either way, I would be annoyed,too.

I just sold back this term's textbookx to Amazon for $25 more than I paid. Definitely worth a shot, their buyback prices have gone up over the oast week.

[sprky79]

Absolutely valid.
Also, Bigwords.com. Best search enging for used books.

[mrsjuleshs]

That was always a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I had one class that we had to buy a book to read 1 4 page article. Complete waste of money.

[mamasaurus]

It's totally valid. I used to bitch about the textbooks in the course evals anytime I had a complaint about them. Too expensive, not used enough in class, new edition that we cannot buy used is only different because it added one chapter that we did not use at all for class, references something out of date/discredited, you name it.

[Jalapeñomel]

There was a stand outside our bookstore last year that bought back books for almost double what the bookstore was paying. Not sure if that is an option with your location or not.